DSF

Hi all,
You may remember the other week I bored people with the info I had finally got my large format printer?
It is only and old one and I didnt pay a lot, but money is tight.
Well I picked it up last weekend. My God they are big arent they? My wife is not too well pleased I can tell you.
I was given a part roll of paper to have a play with it and get used to configuring the sizes etc.
I made a few mistakes and was very unhappy that I could get the sizes right.
I have a plotter cutter, Expert 24 from Xpress and when I plot with that I can print preview and it shows the text, graphics as if it were on the roll.
But the printer didnt come with software that does that. I think it is a bit basic?
I have worked out how to size it ok now, but still a bit hit and miss at times.
I have been looking for a programme that I can get the same preview on this printer I get with my plotter.
I seem to be wasting too much paper as it may start a foot in at times?
I am only using the test paper I was given at the moment, but am a bit reluctant to pay for a 3 foot roll of canvas, or photo paper due to the waste.
Is what I need a "RIP" programme?
Also, once it has finished I click finish and cut and the paper is cut off.
I read that this function should not be used with canvas as the fibres can harm the heads? Opinions please.
I need to learn how to manually cut it if that is the case as I cant find anything in the manual to do that.
As my title suggests, once I started to understand it a bit I was very happy considering the age and cost of the printer.
As I say I am only using cheap paper that I was given for practice (it is like tissue paper) and the results are not bad at all.
I am very hopeful that once I get a decent medium the quality will be even better.
36in canvas roll or photo paper isnt cheap is it?
What quality canvas should I use. I see so many different types and weights?
I want to do something like 36 x24 canvas prints.
My Son was here in the week with his Son and fell asleep on the setee.
I took a photo with my phone and have printed it off at that size for practice. (36 x 24in)
I think it came out really good, considering it was just a phone shot and printed on cheap inkjet paper.
What do you think?

It wont let me post the photo?
Ahhaaa, it was too big.
The hand pointing is just my wifes hand to get a perspective.

What model large format did you get?

Hi Pisquee.
It is a very old Hp Design jet 750c plus.
It is the 36 inch version.
I paid £450.
I have checked I can get carts cheap and refills etc.
I was / am very pleased with the quality of the print considering it isnt a lot of money for a large format Printer.
I am just trying to get into it.
If I had the money obviously I have a wish list. But I dont.
I must say I am very happy how my pics came out on the test paper and very little knowledge.

Our large formats (sublimation and pigment) are all Epsons, so was hoping you'd gone that way too, as then I may have been able to offer more help.
It is amazing how little they sell for used, and it doesn't seem to matter what size, whether it be a 17" or a 42", they all seem to sell between £300 and £500
We picked up an Epson 7600 a few weeks back for £275!

Hi TonyM

yes, I suspect you will need a RIP if you want to get more control of the printer. Not knowing these machines in particular I can not say for sure, but I have never used a wide format without a RIP. be warned, some RIPS can cost more than the printer!!!

With regards to cutting canvas, correct, never use the internal knife to cut it but instead just cut it off yourself.

In terms of quality of canvas, this really is your choice. I get mine from http://www.picturemaster.co.uk/index.htm they have a good wide choice and seem to be about right on price. Make sure you get the correct canvas as some of them are for solvent printers and I am not sure if yours is.

Apart from that, using the machine is the best way to work out what it can do and how good it is. Blue Back paper is pretty cheap and it might be worth you purchasing a roll of that to use for testing.

Hope you get everything sorted soon, you certainly got a good machine there for a nice price

Thinking -

Yeah, don't use the internal cutter for canvases (or even thick/heavy papers) as it isn't up to the job.

There should be a setting for how much paper/canvas the printer feeds through before/after the print - either in the printer menus themselves, or in the driver/software.

For our printing, we get everything we need from Photoshop and the Epson printer driver software, so don't need a RIP (although can see some advantages to one, so always keeping an eye out for a used one from the Epson 9600/7600 era!) As I've not used any HP printers ever (small or large) I can't comment on how good their driver software is for not needing a RIP.

Hi,
I started using my epson 24 inch with a rip, but the pc was stolen, and after we got used to using windows driver, never bothered replacing it.
You can set the page up in PS - and then size your work to the page size, then use print preview in PS - bang print!
I advise settling on just a couple of media types, as swapping over can be a real hassle, then get and apply profiles, and then just print.
Autolevels on PS - and direct print produces stunning results if the thing is set up correct.
SURE - a rip is great for tiling, and easy media profile changes and advanced WYSIWYG tuning, but we never bothered getting a replacement......
Remember, the ink is more costly than the paper, get good paper, waste less ink!